Fate & an Arts Residency Program

In any given season, cellist Zuill Bailey travels to more than 25 states, at least four different countries and three continents. His concerts find him performing in the most renowned concert halls and festivals with the world's greatest performers. Exotic locations, major cities of the world, incredible musical partnerships and diverse cultures are at his fingertips. With all of these possibilities, one cannot help but wonder why he lives in El Paso. "Actually, I am asked that question quite often," Bailey says. "I find myself always stumbling a little regarding what comes next, but in reality, it is not one thing in particular."

Is it the incredibly warm-natured people, the interesting border culture or the climate? "It is actually the guacamole,” Bailey says with a chuckle. "The answer is something I cannot specifically explain, but the moment I arrived in El Paso, I knew I was supposed to live here."

Bailey’s arrival to the Sun City happened in the summer of 200, when he and wife artist Margarita Cabrera moved here from New York City for what was supposed to be a brief art residency for Cabrera. "I was able to follow her here due to the fact that a traveling musician only needs a relatively convenient airport to be able to continue to work," Bailey replies. Only a few weeks into their brief stint, a few unexpected events occurred that would change everything. "This is where I feel that fate played itself out in a very big way," claims Bailey.

The Perfect Fit

Zuill Bailey grew up in a community in Northern Virginia, about 20 miles south of Washington D.C. in a time and place where the arts were thriving and extremely accessible. His world meant being surrounded by over fifteen regional orchestras, including the National Symphony. Each of these ensembles and organizations provided music and education for their own intimate surrounding areas. The arts flourished and were openly celebrated.

"Having begun my travels as a performing artist in my late teens, I began to realize that this situation in Northern Virginia and gift of opportunity was not only incredibly rare, but one that could change a city and its people in magical ways," Bailey says. "The more and more I found myself on the road, the more I felt the need to share this incredible experience from my youth and to spread my love for the arts," Bailey claims. His only regret was having to leave a community once he felt he planted so many important seeds and never really seeing his work blossom.

"A great feeling of emptiness began growing inside of me, not feeling like I was making the kind of impact I was supposed to make," Bailey replies. This brings Bailey’s story back to the summer of 2001, when El Paso Pro Musica approached him to become their new artistic director. Pro Musica had been in an extensive search for more than six months and found Bailey a natural fit. "I think I speak for everyone when I say that the moment we met, we all knew that something very special was about to begin," Bailey claims. "All the stars were aligned."

The Renaissance Begins

Since that day, both the city of El Paso and El Paso Pro Musica appear to have jumped into a Renaissance period. El Paso Pro Musica, with executive director Kathrin Berg Pettit, has grown into an organization presenting more than 30 events, in addition to a celebrated month long Chamber Music Festival each January. Prominent musicians from all over the world are now sharing their talents and personalities with the city of El Paso. In addition, new collaborations are prospering with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, UTEP, Ft. Bliss, the El Paso Museum of Art and venues as far as Mexico.

Another important part of Bailey's commitment to the city and Pro Musica is his incredible dedication to outreach. "This is why I am here, literally, as a servant to this city to personally make a difference," Bailey says. "I'm doing this for us, for the children, my children and to make an impact in the way I know I can." Bailey and other artists he invites to El Paso perform at schools throughout the region, bringing the love of music to young audiences, the way music was presented to him.

Since taking the reins of the artistic side of the organization, musical luminaries such as Janos Starker, the Juilliard String Quartet, Lynn Harrell, Pinchas Zukerman and famed guitarist Manuel Barrueco, have made El Paso a concert destination and have been applauded by enthusiastic, sold-out audiences. The world's greatest violinist Itzhak Perlman is scheduled to perform at the Plaza Theater in April of 2009. "I find no greater pleasure than opening the door for these brilliant artists to showcase their talents and to get a glimpse into the city that I treasure," claims Bailey.

In addition to the personalities that he meets, his appearances on the road also inspire him to bring new ideas to El Paso. "This season, I am participating in a gala for the Napa Valley Symphony Orchestra at the Mondavi Vineyards," Bailey says. The evening, entitled, "The Six Courses of Bach," is designed to combine his performance of the complete Bach suites along with a fine food and wine pairing. "I felt a special event like this needed to be brought to El Paso, so Pro Musica is presenting an evening where a rare musical experience can also be a gift for the senses," Bailey explains.

Onward & Upward

Zuill Bailey's goal is to change the way the music is perceived and experienced. He hopes to continue that musical crusade again this January with another memorable Chamber Music Festival. This innovative programming begins with a final farewell to the Guarnieri String Quartet, an enduring ensemble that has performed worldwide for more than 40 years, to an evening of "Mozart to Metallica." Violinist Rachel Barton Pine will provide an intense evening of music as she traces the roots from the classics to heavy metal. "Here is an artist who is literally breaking down barriers and bridging the gaps in every taste in music," states Bailey. This special event will be held at the Sunland Park Yamaha dealership and promises to be totally unique.

The Festival will also include another collaboration with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and the return of pianist Awadagin Pratt, a weekly film festival, along with the popular "Bach's Lunch" series at the El Paso Museum of Art. "These free noon concerts are a gift to the community where one can take their lunch hour to learn more about the concerts in the festival, the performers and the composers, not to mention a tour of the incredible collections at the Museum," Bailey says.

Throughout it all, Bailey continues to fly out of what he calls his "hometown," and travels more than 200 days a year playing upwards of 80 concerts from San Francisco to Moscow, the Kennedy Center to Carnegie Hall, Australia, China, the Middle East, Cuba, South America and more. In addition, he has also signed an exclusive contract with Telarc International, with his first CD, "Russian Masterworks," to be released in January of 2009.

"Music and the arts have always influenced history and culture and this is the way we keep our society moving," Bailey claims. In Bailey’s words, "onward and upward!"